Our Favorite Italian Meat Pie Food

SCIACHIATTA OR SICILIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups of the flour and 1 teaspoon of salt; set aside.
• In separate small container, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for several minutes until foam forms on top.
• Make a well in center of flour and add the yeast mixture; stir until combined. If using an electric mixer, add hook attachment and knead for several minutes until dough pulls away from the sides and has an elastic texture. If kneading by hand, roll out on to floured surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to large bowl. To that same bowl, add the dough and roll to coat dough in olive oil.
• Cover top of dough with plastic wrap and then cover the top of the bowl with a clean towel.
• Let rise for a least 90 minutes, until dough has doubled in size.
• Punch dough down and break in half to form two dough balls.
• If using right away, let rise another 30 minutes on counter. If using at a later date, place in greased plastic ziplock and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• To make filling, heat 1 tablepoon of olive oil in saute pan. Add red pepper flakes and garlic; saute about a minute. Add ground pork and saute on medium high heat for five minutes; add parsley, salt, black pepper, dandelion greens and continue to saute until vegetables are tender and meat is slightly carmelized; set aside to cool.
• When ready to make the sciachiatta, heat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Grease 9-inch shallow pie or pizza pan or dish with olive oil.
• Roll out both dough balls to about a 6-inch circle. With the first half, using hands, press and stretch dough into the bottom of the pan, and the bottom sides of the pan.
• Brush with a little olive oil and then add a layer of Pecorino. Spread a thick, even layer of the cooked pork (about an inch or more) and then top with another layer of Pecorino.
• With hands, gently pull remaining dough over the top to cover the entire top of the pie and dish. With fingers, tuck and pinch the dough down into the sides of the pan to seal the pie.
• With sharp knife, cut several one-inch slices in top crust (to allow for steam to escape).
• Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle with a little kosher salt.
• Bake for about 30 minutes until crust is deep golden brown; remove from oven and let cool about 20 minutes before slicing.

OUR FAVORITE ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375*.
• Brown ground beef and onions, seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain well.
• Put meat back into pan and add enough spaghetti sauce to coat the meat well but not make it soupy (usually about half a jar for me). I like Ragu Old World Style, Mushroom Flavor.
• Stir in the mushrooms if your family will eat them!
• Line an 8x8 pan with about 6 of the crescent rolls (I use Pillsbury Reduced Fat crescent rolls and they work fine!), sealing the seams by smooshing them together and making the rolls go about an inch up the sides of the pan.
• Mix the beaten egg with one cup of shredded mozzarella (I use the 2% shredded cheese and that works well!), then spread it evenly over the top of the crescent rolls.
• Top egg and cheese layer with ground beef mixture.
• Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese over the top of the meat layer.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is nicely melted and lightly browned and crescent rolls crust is done.
• Roll up remaining crescent rolls and bake along side the meat pie.
• Let meat pie rest on the counter or table for about 5 minutes or so to make it easier to serve.
• Serve the meat pie with the crescent rolls and a great salad. Enjoy!

TRADITIONAL MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pie Crust: Mix flour and shortening. Add salt and cold water. Add all the cold water at once and mix delicately. Form a ball and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Once dough is chilled, flour your worktop. Divide dough in half. Roll out 2 pie crusts. One should be slightly larger than the other, this will be your bottom crust.
• Meat Filling: Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the pork and onion and cook over medium-low heat for 45 minutes, stirring often. When pork is cooked remove fat from pan. Add grated potato, salt, pepper, and allspice, to taste. Stir well, and let mixture rest for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the bottom of 9-inch pie plate. Place the bottom crust in the pie plate and poke several holes in the crust with a fork. Make sure an ample amount of crust spills over the edges of the pie plate. Fill the crust with the meat mixture. Level with a spatula. Wet edges of bottom crust and place top crust over meat mixture. Press top crust onto meat mixture to eliminate any air holes. Beat together the egg and the milk to make an egg wash. Pinch the crust edges together and brush the top crust with the egg wash.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
• Slice and serve hot or cold.

LYNN'S ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare pie crust and refrigerate while cooking meat.
• 2. Place ground beef, Italian sausage, garlic and onion in skillet till meat is browned. Drain any excess grease. Add enough sauce to pan to make the meat moist, but NOT soupy or saucy.
• 3. Add Italian seasoning and basil. Simmer for 10 min. Meanwhile roll out pie crust large enough to fit in a 12" deep dish skillet or pan.
• 4. Place a large piece of parchment paper in bottom of pan, this will allow for easier removal, unless using a springform pan. Place dough in pan, I used a cast iron skillet. Make sure dough comes almost all the way up the sides of the pan.
• 5. Spoon in just enough sauce (not meat mixture) to barely cover bottom.
• 6. Add slices of fresh mozzarella. Spoon in all of meat mixture.
• 7. Top with Bruschetta Jack cheese (or your favorite Italian blend). Tears pieces of prosciutto and drop on top of pie as well as Parmesan cheese.
• 8. Bake 375° for 50 min. Allow to cool for 15-20 min before removing from pan.

ITALIAN PIZZERIA-STYLE MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Brown beef and pork.
• Add onions and Peppers and saute till onions are slightly browned. Add garlic and saute.
• Add all other ingredients except dough, and simmer till thickened.
• Roll out 1 loaf of dough to fit a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Using a slotted spoon spread the meat mixture on top.
• Roll out the second loaf.
• Place this sheet on top and seal the edges.
• Poke a few vent holes in the crust.
• Brush the top completely with the fat drippings.
• Bake at the temp reccomended for the bread dough, till golden brown.
• Allow to cool slightly before cutting with a bread knife. (the inside will look slightly doughy).

DEEP DISH ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Brown beef in large skillet.
• Drain, add green pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to skillet along with tomatoes and all seasonings.
• Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle half of Parmesan cheese over bottom of pie crust.
• Cover with half of meat mixture, then half of Mozzarella, followed by the remaining meat mixture.
• Bake pie on cookie sheet 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella cheese and return to oven 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.

MEXICALI MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Beat the egg slightly in a mixing bowl. Add ground beef, corn, cracker crumbs, chili sauce, pepper flakes, onion, and oregano. Mix well. Press mixture firmly into the pastry-lined pie plate. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Mix together in a bowl the topping ingredients. Spread on the filling. Top with olives and bacon.
• Bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and drain.
• Add green pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Add water, tomato paste and spaghetti sauce mix; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesean cheese on bottom of pie shell.
• Spread 1/2 meat mixture on top of parmesean and then layer 1 cup Mozarella.
• Layer remaining meat mixture.
• Top with 1/4 cup Parmesean.
• Bake on cookie sheet in 400-degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup Mozarella and heat until melted (10 minutes).